Bad doesn’t begin to describe the new movie “Arthur.” The new comedy, staring Russell Brand, is not funny. Every joke used in “Arthur” that is funny and worth watching was shown in the preview for the movie.

The preview was pretty great, But you aren’t missing anything by not seeing the full movie. I am a fan of Brand’s rock star alter ego and the roles he has played before, but his venture away from his traditional character fell flat.

There is no nice way to put it; the basic truth is that Brand can’t act. Unfortunately for creators of “Arthur” adding a reputable actress like Helen Mirren to a movie can’t turn it into a good film.

Brand plays Arthur, the heir to a company and a huge fortune, whose drunken and childish antics are starting to scare investors off. Brand’s mother declares that he has to marry an up and coming businesswoman, played by Jennifer Garner, or forfeit his inheritance.

Brand agrees to the marriage grudgingly, that is until he meets Naomi, played by Greta Gerwig, a fun loving aspiring children’s book writer who still manages to make “childish antics look healthy and manageable, and she’s “poor” by Brand’s standards.

The big question in the movie is: Can Naomi curb Brand’s drinking and bad behavior and convince him that you can have just as much fun without millions in cash and bottles of booze before he enters a loveless marriage with a woman he despises? You have to see the movie to find out… or you can probably guess. If you have ever seen a romantic comedy your guess is probably right.

The one bright spot in the movie is Helen Mirren who plays Brand’s nanny. Mirren is an Oscar winner for good reason but she should try picking her parts more carefully. There is only so much her genteel charm can add to a script like this.